STANFORD – Quarterback Ben Gulbranson had his greatest recreation of the season Saturday, however the Stanford soccer group turned to its protection to assist earn its first win below interim coach Frank Reich.
An enormous goal-line stand by Stanford late within the third quarter shortly led to a go-ahead landing run by Micah Ford, serving to to propel the Cardinal to a 30-20 win over Boston Faculty within the ACC opener for each groups.
Stanford’s protection got here up with a game-changing play late within the third quarter.
On 4th and objective on the Cardinal 1-yard line, Eagles operating again Turbo Richard tried to leap the pile on the line of scrimmage, however had the ball knocked free by defensive lineman Clay Patterson, with security Jay Inexperienced recovering ultimately zone.
On the following play, Ford darted up the center for a 75-yard run to the Boston Faculty 5, then scored on the subsequent play to offer Stanford a 27-20 lead after the additional level.
For the sport, the Cardinal scored 21 factors off Boston Faculty turnovers to assist earn their first win of the yr and open the season at residence on a badly wanted optimistic word.
Gulbranson, a switch from Oregon State, accomplished 13 of twenty-two passes for 186 yards, and Ford had 157 yards on 17 carries.
Stanford (1-2, 1-0 ACC) additionally had two large performs within the second quarter to take a 20-17 lead.
Gulbranson accomplished his first landing go of the season late within the first half. On third and three on the Cardinal 31, Gulbranson discovered tight finish Sam Roush alongside the sideline on the 50-yard line, the place Roush eluded a deal with and outraced Boston Faculty cornerback Isaiah Farris to the tip zone as Stanford reduce Boston Faculty’s result in 17-13.
On the Eagles’ ensuing possession, Cardinal nook Collin Wright intercepted an off-target go by Eagles quarterback Dylan Lonergan and returned it 19 yards for a landing, giving Stanford a 20-17 lead with 1:29 left within the second quarter.
Stanford moved the ball inside Boston Faculty’s 20-yard line on its first two drives however needed to accept a pair of subject objectives from fifth-year senior Emmet Kenney, with the second from 35 yards that gave the Cardinal a 6-0 lead with 1:04 left within the first quarter.
Boston Faculty’s offense began to discover a rhythm within the second quarter. Trailing 6-3, Lonergan eluded a blitz and linked with Richard for a 49-yard landing with 10:43 left within the first half.
On the subsequent possession for Boston Faculty (1-2, 0-1), Lonergan discovered Reed Harris for a 46-yard acquire to the Stanford 2, with operating again Jordan McDonald scoring on the subsequent play.
Gulbranson, earlier than Saturday, had an uneven begin to his Cardinal profession, finishing 32 of 62 passes for 251 yards, three interceptions, and no touchdowns.
Lonergan, in the meantime, had accomplished 60 of 79 passes for 658 yards and eight touchdowns earlier than Saturday, with the second-quarter interception he threw being his first of the season.
Via two video games, the Cardinal’s longest play from scrimmage this season was a 36-yard go from Gulbranson to Chico Holt within the third quarter of their season opener towards Hawaii.
Beginning left guard Nick Fattig left the sport with a leg harm within the second quarter, additional decimating an already skinny Stanford offensive line. Already out with accidents for the Cardinal have been guards Nathan Mejia and Simione Pale. Redshirt freshman Ziron Brown, enjoying simply his fourth recreation, changed Fattig, a switch from Texas Tech.
Initially Printed: September 13, 2025 at 10:39 PM PDT
